Bears sign Kyle Orton to 1 year deal

[SportsWorld]

Orton gets a Rex-tension
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football ... 26.article

To ensure it's a level playing field in the quarterback competition between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton, the Bears leveled things off the field Monday night, agreeing to terms on a one-year extension with Orton for the exact same money Grossman received.

Orton is now under contract through 2009 and receives $3 million in new money with another $1.5 million attainable in an escalator and incentives. Grossman's one-year contract has a base value of $3 million and also tops out at $4.5 million.

Orton gets a $1.4 million signing bonus and a $100,000 workout bonus, and his base salary climbs from $520,000 to $1.3 million this season. Next year, Orton will earn $620,000 in base pay with another $100,000 workout bonus.

The Bears approached Orton's camp about a deal last week, and the sides got close to one Saturday, with initial discussions including a potential two-year extension.

[Howling Mad]

I'm surprised this thread hasn't been responded to.

I like the one year contracts for both Rex and Kyle.

Would it surprise you guys if Orton won the job? not me.

[WT]

I like the one-year deals as well. I see three scenarios that could play out:

1. Rex wins job and proves he's our QB of the future
2. Orton wins job and proves he's our QB of the future
3. Neither prove to be our QB of the future and we look for a QB in a hopefully stronger 09 free agency crop or through the draft (developing this year's pick, or using next year's)

I like the fact that we have no longterm obligations to two unproven quaterbacks. Another "trial" year is frustrating, but I think its the best option at this point.

[PJ Brown]

If you can't do any better, then this makes sense. They commit to neither and put pressure on both to succeed. If it doesn't work out, either or both are just gone. I'd rather have a better QB, but I don't mind the way they've arranged things.

[ChronicKerr]

we have more pressing needs this year (ie building a servicable o-line, improving the worst skill position set int he NFL) before throwing a new QB into the fire, i don't mind this and next year we'll hopefully have some more options to upgrade the QB position